Leaving Kochi (Cochin) in Southern India - the area known as Kerala - after a great day touring Willingdon Island where ship is docked, Mattancherry, and Fort Kochi. Did NOT shop, but did stop in a spice store for a few gifts to bring home. The spice and sari shop turned out to be The Chendamangalam Weavers’ Co-Operative Society. Saw the Chinese fishing nets in action and visited the 16th Century Portuguese Dutch Palace as well as the Portuguese church and Vasco Da Gama’s gravesite (till he was moved to Portugal in 1538). Our last stop was in a home - coincidentally, the elder woman of the house has a son living in Pennsylvania whom she hasn’t seen in 10 years - I will carry her hug back to him when I return home.
The economic crisis affects India, as our tour guide explained, including the IT companies and workers here. As I travel from country to country it is clear that the economic crisis affects people all over the world and they are watching us. I hear that many Republicans are treating business in Washington in a partisan way - how inappropriate in the context of a world crisis. We need to work together in the same way that the nation pulled together in the time of WW II.
Coming up in two days - Mumbai (Bombay), then a totally different environment - Dubai.
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2 comments:
Greetings Lois! Your day in Cochin sounded wonderful! What a small world to cross paths with the mother whose son is in PA! Wonder how Mumbai will compare. I work with many folks who are from Mumbai...they speak of great corruption within the city government however doubt you will witness this during your day on shore. We are trying to usher in spring back here however it is slow to happen. In a few weeks I suppose spring will surprise us with a 70 degree day! At least it has been fun watching Phillies grapefruit games! I know you will continue to enjoy this "once in a lifetime experience" - although the way you are talking it may not be! Sail on and soak it up!
Hi Lois,
Enjoyed reading your comments about the Indian state of Kerala and the history of the Portugese influence there. That is one of the few areas of India where there is a concentration of Christians.
Kerala is also one of the largest cashew growing areas in the world, next to Brazil. We've purchased quite a few Indian cashews over the years.
The Indian government is also investing a lot of money to develop a cocoa industry in Kerala and adjoining states that sit within 10 deg. of the equator.
It looks like you are already either in Mumbai (Bombay) or will arrive there shortly. I think you will find Mumbai extremely different from Kerala and more like the "real India" that many Americans envision. I was there 18years ago when I spent almost a month in India to set up a peanut quality testing lab at a peanut processing plant. The plant was located in the "village" of Jamnagar located in the state of Gujarat north of Bombay, not too far from the Pakastan border.
Jamnagar was described as a "village" in the India travel book that I purchased but when I got there I learned that the population was around 600,000! Wall to wall people! I stayed with a Hindo family when I was there so I really gained a appreciation for the Indian Hindu culture.
Looking forward to seeing more pictures of India posted on your gallery. Hopefully, you'll get to visit the Taj Mahal or the Oberoi hotels when you're in Mubai. They're both 5 star hotels and are as nice as any upscale hotel in Europe or the US. Both hotels were under siege by terrorists earlier this year and the Taj Mahal had a lot of fire damage, so they may not be back up to full operation. I stayed at the Oberoi for 1 night when I was there.
Happy sailing,
Dan
P.S. if you see any Godrej brand snacks or beverages when you're in Mumbai, that company is now owned by Hershey.
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